Determination of the Load Carrying Capacity of Honeycomb Panels at Fixing Points under an External Load

Abstract

In this article, the object of study is a three–layer honeycomb panel with fixing elements (FE), which are used for transporting the panel, and fixing it to the spacecraft. The goal of the work is to determine experimentally the load carrying capacity of the fixing elements under various types of loading, to determine the load carrying capacity of the honeycomb panel of the spacecraft at fixing points and further comparison of the experimental results with the finite element method results calculated by MSC.Patran / Nastran. A method for conducting static tests of fixing elements of a spacecraft honeycomb panel under an external load is described, a description of computer technology of a finite–element solution to the problem of static strength of a honeycomb panel structure in the MSC.Patran environment is presented, and a finite–element model of a honeycomb panel is designed. An assessment of the strength of a three–layer structure at fixing points was carried out, followed by validation of the finite–element model of a honeycomb panel. On the basis of the validated model, the evaluation of the strength of the honeycomb structure was carried out; based on results obtained, the conclusion has been made about the convergence of the results by the finite element method with the results obtained during the experiment.